Counter



April 26, 1.927.

Filed Feb. 13. 1924 I W. T. SHERER COUNTER 2 vSheets-Shea?I 1 IWI/6721507* wam-m, Zfmf,

April 26, 1927. .1,626,013

w, r. SHERER COUNTER Filed Feb. 18. 1924 y z sheets-Sheet 2 ww@ #W Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM T. SHEREBI, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CQUNTER.

Application led February 18, 1924. Serial No. 693,457.

My invention relates to a display counter or case, and particularly to a combined displaycounter and case in which means are provided for Ventilating the interior of the case. One object is the provision of a case which shall be adapted for use with bakery goods. Another object is the provision of a case. comprising separate compartments, each with its own Ventilating system. Another object is to provide for such a case in which the Ventilating apertures shall be adjustable. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of thel specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically `in the accompanying drawings, whereinj Figure 1 is a perspective view of the case;

Figure 2 is a front elevation with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2*;

Figure l is a detail section of a part of a sliding door on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is an elevation of a variant form; and

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5 on a slightly enlarged scale.

Like parts are illustrated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

In employing my invention I preferably use a counter or show case having a transparent front, top and sides. I illustrate such a counter having, for example, the vertical end frame elements A, A connected by the bottom frame element A1 and a top frame element A2. A3 are vertical frame sections intermediate theends of the counter, A4 being the longitudinal bottom element and A5 a longitudinal top element. AG is any suitable top frame element extending about the entire top of the counter. A7 is any suitablebottom of the show case which is supported upon or spaced from the floor by the baseboards A8, A".

B, B are panes of glass closing the front of the counter. B1, B1 are the top panes and B2 the panes closing the ends of the counter. The rear of the counter may be closed in any suitable manner, but in Figure 1 I illustrate three sliding doors C centered or. riding, for example, on the tracks C1, C1 and the two end doors riding (in the tracks C2, C2. Each door is provided with hand holds or handles C3 at the ends. At the top of each door is an opening closed by fine wire mesh netting D1 or by any other suitable air iltering medium. The aperture D may be closed, for example, by the two sliding doors D2 which are mounted in any suitable fashion to slide along the track slots D3, though I illustrate grooves D4 and opposed flanges D5 on the sliding doors. D6 are any suitable handles or linger pieces. It will be seen by reference to Figjd that the netting D1 and the doors D2 are disposed entirely within the space bounded by the planes including` the opposite faces of the doors C. This is a very desirable arrangement, since it permits the doors to slide closely past each other, as is necessary to give access to the several compartments of the case, without in any way interfering with the ventilating means. Fl/There a plurality of compartments are used, I employ any suitable partitions, herein illustrated as the glass partitions E which are so fitted into the lcounter frame as to prevent the passage of air between the compartments. The front and top of the case, as illustrated, are formed of transparent material permitting purchasers to freely inspect the contents of the case on sale; while the doors C, in which are located the Ventilating openings and the doors or slides by which ventilation is controlled, are at the rear of the case and therefore readily accessible to the person behind the counter, enabling him to accurately control the ventilation of any or all of the compartments as may be required.

Adjustably mounted in each compartment are a plurality of shelves G herein illustrated as comprising circumferential frames G1 and wire mesh. The shelves may be mounted in any suitable adjustable mounting means, but I prefer the arrangement illustrated consisting of adjusting ladders G4 with vertically aligned apertures G5 therein and holding elements Gr adapted to penetrate said apertures and to support the shelves directly, or they may support channel iron tracks G7 in which the shelves G are slidably mounted and the latter arrangement has certain special advantages. Y

The variant form shown in Figures 5 and (i diti'ers from the form above described in having beneath the `Jentilated display portion a horizontal air-proof partition I-I beneath which is mounted a row of drawers H1 invisible from the front of the counter with handles H2, for storage purposes. At

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the front of the counter and aligned with each drawer I mount a display pocket which consists of a base portion H3 and a front pane H4, the bottom of the pocket being provided with any suitable groove or slot I-I5 adapted to receive the edge of the frame element IIG. The pocket may be removed by being lifted so that II5 and H6 are disengaged, permitting the pocket to be swung outwardly about its upper edge as a pivot. The lower edge of the upper frame element I-Il.0 is received into the larger o i' deeper grooves or aperture I-I12 which is deep enough to permit the pocket thus to be raised.

It will be realized that while I have shown an operative device, many changes may be made in the size, description, relation and proportion of parts, and I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a large sense diagrammatic.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I provide a show case comprising any suitable wooden frame open at front, sides and top and closed at the rear by any suitable doors, the doors being here shown as sliding door panels. rIhe apertures in the counter frame are closed by panes of glass, thus leaving the interior of the case in full view, the top, ends and front of the show case or counter being almost entirely of glass. I may build the case of two or more sections, each of said sections being entirely closed from the other by any suitable partitions, herein shown as glass partitions permitting unrestricted view. Ihe partitions are so fitted that the air from one section cannot pass in perceptible quantities to the adjacent section In bakery practice it often happens that bakery goods are placed in the show case or counter when they are practically fresh from the oven. Under such conditions they are often still steaming and will steam up the glass panes and render the contents invisible or hard to see. In order to permit such steam to escape and to permit the glass to remain clear and to permit the escape of such excess of steam or vapor as might tend to render the bakery goods soggy, I provide Ventilating apertures at the top and bottom of the case. These may be located in any suitable manner, but I illustrate them as located one at the top and one at the bottom of each rear door. In order to prevent the entry of insects and so far as possible any idirt or dust I cover the aperture, for example, with a fine metal mesh, although any other suitable air cleansingmeans might be used. In order to adjust the size of the aperture with the maximum simplicity and to close it at will, I provide a pair of small sliding panels mounted in slots or tracks at the top and bottom of the doors and freely slidable therealong, with any suitable finger or thumb engaging element thereupon. Then it is desired completely to close the aperture, both panels are pushed into position and when they meet in the center of the gate, they are of such size that the aperture is entirely closed. When fresh bread, cake or pastry is inserted into the case, the top and bottom apertures may be wide open to permit the escape of steam, and may be closed when the steam has escaped. If a slight permanent or constant ventilation is desired, as under some circumstances it is, I simply leave the top and bottom apertures slightly open. The size of the openings may be readily adjusted to conform to theparticular conditions of humidity or temperature present in the room in which the case stands.

Since each compartment of the case is entirely separate from the adjacent compartment and since each compartment is sepa-V rately ventilated. I am able to insert fresh and steamy goods in one compartment and adjust the ventilation therefor without disturbing the ventilation adjustment of the remaining` compartments.

Since the separate compartments are completely insulated from each other`l I am able simultaneouslv to display in the same case, goods of different natures and flavors including those of strong smell, which might taint or affect the davor of adjacent goods in case they were stored in the same compartment.

In order to permit freecirculation ofair through each compartment I may, if conditions warrant it. replace the usual solid or glass shelves with open wire netting supports which permit a free circulation of air about the food and keep it fresh. The shelves are shown as adjusted in order to conform to different sizes of wares.

In an alternative form of my invention I provide a ventilated bakery counter as above described. along the bottom of the front of which is positioned a row of closed display pockets which mask drawers or shelves, access to which may be had from the rear of the counter. I am thus able in the same counter or case to handle goods of both perishable and non-perishable type and I may for example handle pastry and bakery goods in the upper sections and package groceries or even bulk groceries in the lower section, the nature of the material stored in the drawers being indicated by the samples in the display pockets.

' I claim:

l. A display case divided by vertical partitions into a series of separate compartments the compartments being open at one side of the case, doors for closing the open ends of theI compartments supported so as to slide in front one of the other and adjustalole yentilating means mounted in the doors and located entirely Within the planes including the opposite faces of the doors whereby the doors may slide past one another without interfering with the adjustments of the Ventilating means.

2. A display case provided at one side with doors adapted to slide in front one of the other and Ventilating means located in l0 the doors consisting of fine mesh for filter-- ing the air, and sliding closures on the doors arranged to be moved so as to cover to a greater or less degree the mesh, the closures and mesh being located entirely Within the space bounded by planes including the opposite faces of the doors.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 13th day of February XVILLIAM T. SHERER. 

